Check controlled apparatus



Feb. 16, 1932. q. .RlEGEL 1,845,333

CHECK CONTROLLED APPARATUS Filed June 5, 1930 s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORATTORNEY" Feb. 16, 1932. G. E. RIEGEL 1,845,333

CHECK CONTROLLED APPARATUS Filed June 5, 1930 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORATTQRNEY Feb. 16, 1932. a. E. RIEGEL I CHECK CONTROLLED APPARATUS 3Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 5, 1930 Buy ElP/EEEL.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Feb. is, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GUYE. RIEGEL, OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR T0 AUTOMATIC. RADIO COR-PORATION, OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON, A CORPORATION annex CONTROLLED APPARATS Application filed June 5, 1980. Serial No. 459,336.

My present inventionrelates to improvements in check controlledapparatus of the type employing a check or coin operated electric switchthat is normally open, but is closed for a predetermined time, theswitch being mechanically controlled by coin operating mechanism. Whilemy check or coin controlled apparatus is applicable for various uses, itis particularly designed for predetermining the time of operating aradio receiving' set, and the prime mover for the apparatus and radioinstrument is preferably an electrically operated clock. The electricalclock is continuously operating, without necessity for winding, and istherefore available'for use in operating the radio set under control ofthe coin operating mechanism.

In carrying out my invention the electric clock and the radio receivingset are preferably combined in a cabinet or fixture that may be used ina hotel room, (or other suitable place) and the radio instrumentreceives its required electricity from the wires of the electricalclock. By dropping a coin in a slot of the cabinet, the hotel guest ispermitted to avail himself of the entertainment from the radio set for apredetermined time, and at the end of the predetermined period of timethe radio instrument is automatically rendered inoperatlve but is re-setfor a succeedlng oper ation.

A continually revolving shaft of the clock is employed as the primemover for mechanically operating or rotating a coin carrier, and theduration of the operating-time of this coin carrier is governed orcontrolled by the radio switch. In the absence of a check or com theradio-switch remains open and the coin control mechanism or apparatusremains stationary.

The invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements ofparts as will hereinafter be more fully set forth and claimed. In theaccompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example of thephysical embodiment of my invention wherein the parts are combined andarranged according to one mode I have thus far devised for thesuccessful application of the prin- 5 J ciples of my invention. It will,however, be

understood that various changes and alterations may be made in theexemplified structure, within the scope of my claims, without departingfrom the principles of my inventlOIl;

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cabinet or article of furniture inwhich the electrical switch, the initial position of the coin carrierbeing indicated by full lines and theend of the movement of the carrierbeing indicated by dotted line position.

Figure 4 is a detail view of part of the coin carrier in an intermediateposition and while a being operated by the clock-movement.

' Figure 5 is a top plan view showing the assembly of the clock and thecoin controlled mechanism.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of there-' 1 setting, bell crank, lever,and Figure 7 is a similar view of the switch lever.

In Figure 1 where. the general embodiment of my invention is exemplifiedI employ a cabinet or boi 1 of suitable size and shape havingthe-electrical clock 2 appearing in its front face, and withinthe'ca-binet is'located the. radio receiving set or instrumentindicatedby dotted lines at 3, and with the control knobs or handles 4in positions for use by the operator of the set.

The loud speaker for the receiving instrument is designated 5. and islocated just below the dial or face of the clock 2.

In Figure 2 the electric current for the clock includes the wires 6 and7, and the radio circuit includes wires 8 and 9 that are connected asindicated with the wires 6 and 7 of the clock. The clock is assumed tobe operating at all times. but the radio instrument is operated onlywhen the switch 10 in the radio circuit is closed. The switch '10 isshown open in Figure 2, but-it is automatically closedw'hen a coin, as C(dotted lines Figures 3 and 4) is employed for performing 32 to hold theratchet lever in full line posiits functions. In the diagram Figure 2,tion of Figure 3 where the switch is open.

the antennae of the radio instrument is indicated at 11 and the nated12. v v

The coin C is inserted in the slot '13 in the upper part of the cabinetand passes down through a coin chute 14 within the cabinet. By means ofthe coin carrier 21 (as will be described) the coin is carried ortransferred from chute 14 to the spaced, vertically arranged, dischargechute 15, and finally passes out through the slide 16 to a suitablereceptacle, or collection box. 1

.ground wire is desig- For the operation of the coin carrier I utilize acontinuously revolving shaft 17 of the clock, and place thereon themotor wheel 18 with its peripheral teeth 19, it bein understood that themotor wheel revolves'c ockwise at all times with the shaft 17.

A frame 20 is provided for the support of some of the operating partsand arranged within the cabinet, back of the clock 2.

The coin carrier 21 is a sectionofthe chute complementary to thechutes'14 and 15, and 'is provided with a hub 22 loose on the shaft 17.Due to the weight of its lower end, the carrier 21, by gravity isreturned to the perpendicular position of Figure 3, and because of therounded upper end 23 of the carrier co-acting with the complementarylower'end ,of chute 14, the carrier is prevented from turninganti-clockwise to an I excessive degree. As indicatedby full lines anddotted lines in Figure 3 the coin carrier is permitted to swing on itsaxial center, with the shaft 17, from the full line vertical position,to the dotted line horizontal position. The rounded, discharge end 23 ofthe carrier however swings downwardly and to the right a sum cientdistance to insure that the-coin C will roll by gravity from thedischarge end 23 into an edge-slot 24 of the discharge chute 15, and thecoin is thus passed to the collection box. The carrier is actuated bythe wheel 18 and is coupled therewith for its movement by means of alever and ratchet device carried on an extension 25, of one wall of thecarrier,

. that projects below the-open lower end of the carrier.

A pawl 26 having a ratchet-head 27, for

engagement with the ratchet teeth of thewheel 18, is pivoted at.28'onthe extension, and the pawl or ratchet lever 26 has an extended arm 29with a lobe 30 on one of its edges. The ratchet lever is positioned sothat its pawl 27 may engage the ratchet wheel,

- and at the same time the lobe protrudes in the open end of the carrierto form a closed bottom of the carrier to support a coin therein.

On the underside of the ratchet leveradjacent its'hubportion areprovided two spaced lugs 31 and 32, with which a spring detent 33.co-acts through a lug 34 on the detent.

' The lug 34 onthe detent co-acts with tooth The ratchet lever isdislodged from its full line position of Figure 3 'by the wei ht of thecoin as it falls through the perpen icular carrier and strikes againstthe lobe 30 that-is projecting into the open end of the carrier.

The impact of the coin depresses arm 29 and raises lever arm 26 and thetooth 32 is snapped over the lug 34 to the left side of the tooth, as inFigure 4, where'the ratchet" proximating the dotted line position ofFigure 3.

When the, carrier attains the position for discharging its coin C to theslot,24 of the discharge chute 15, the carrier is automaticall releasedfrom its coupledrelation to the rate et wheel, throu h theinstrumentality of a release, .bell cran lever having the two .arms 35and 36 and pivoted at 37 on the extension plate 25 with arm 36 inproximity to the tooth 31 of the ratchet lever.

'The long arm 35 of the bell crank lever I moves in an arcuate lpathbeyond the periphery of the ratchet w eel, and in this path is located arelease pin as 38. The pin may be set in a selected one of an annularseries of pin holes 39in the bracket or frame 20, or in a s cial plateprovided therefor and attache to the bracket.

The location of the pin 38 in a selected hole 39 determines the lengthof travel of the carrier and also determines the length of the periodduring which the circuit maker or switch 10 is closed and the radio setis operating.

ure 3 and-the parts as indicated in Figure 4,- when the long arm 35vstrikes pin 38 the re lease bell crank lever is swung .on its pivot 37and the short arm 36 bearing against tooth 31 swings the ratchet leverfrom engagement with the toothed, ratchet wheel 18. Then the carrier, bygravity swings anti-clockwise on its shaft 17 back to position of fulllines in Figure 3, opens the closed switch 10, and the spring detent 34engages the opposite side of the tooth 32 to hold the ratchet lever inposition to hold open. the circuit maker or switch 10.

The carrier is thus released by the use of the'bell crank lever, and theswitch .10 is re-' set by the use of. the gravity-swinging car- With thecarrier turning clockwise in Figi rier and its re-s'etting spring detentand ratchet lever thus liolds open the switch or ratchet lever.

The switch or circuit maker is mounted on a plate 40 that is secured tothe frame 20 and the plate is located in proximity to the lower edge ofthe ratchet wheel for co-action with the ratchet lever. Terminals 41 and42 of the wire 9 are secured at the opposite ends oi the plate, and astationary contact member or blade is used with the resilient or spring,movable blade 44 of the switch. (in the upper side of the spring bladeis fixed a lug or abutment 45, and beneath the spring blade and fixed tothe plate 40vis a stop ing or boss 46. a

As shown, the spring blade of the switch is approximately tangential tothe ratchet edge of the wheel 18, and the outer end of the ratchet leveris adapted to ride up the inclined face of the spring blade and depressthe blade to remove it from electrical contact with the stationary blade43. The stopboss or pin 46 preventsexcessive depression of the springblade, and the ratchet head 27 contacts with the lug at the same timethe spring blade contacts with the boss 46. The

circuit maker 10, and of course, when the circuit maker is o ened theradio circuit is broken and the ra io set ceases to operate.

The carrier, is thus returned, by gravity, to its perpendicularposition, with the opening 23 registering with the lower open end of thereceiving chute 14, as indicated in Figure 3 and the mechanism is againset for a succeeding operation when a coin is dropped into the .coinslotand passes through the chute.

Havin thus fully described my invention, what I c aim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent is 1. The combination with a circuit maker,means for closing the circuit and a rotary operating member, of a coincarrier loosely associated with the member and adapted to rotatetherewith, means for coupling the carrier with said member, means forreleasing the carrier from the member, and means on the circuit makerfor coaction with the coupling device for opening thecircuit maker.

2. The combination with a circuit maker, means for closing the circuitmaker and a rotary member, of a coin carrier loosely associated with themember and adapted to rotate therewith, a coupling device carried .bythe carrier, means on the member for co-action with said device,releasing means on the car-' rier for the coupling device, means in thepath of the ,releasing means for actuating the latter, and means on thecircuit maker for co-action with the coupling device for open-- ing thecircuit maker.

3. The combination in a coin controlled apparatus with a pair of spaced,related coin chutes, of a. rotary coin carrier adapted to receive thecoin from one and deliver it to the other chute, a rotary operatingmember, means for coupling the carrier with said member, means fordisconnecting said carrier from the member, a circuit maker and closingmeans therefore, and means on the circuit maker for co-action with thecoupling means for opening the circuit maker.

4.'The-combination in a coin controlled apparatus with a pair of spacedchutes and an intermediate rotary, transfer chute-carrier, of a rotaryvoperating member, means mounted on the carrier an co-acting means on themember for coupling the member to the carrier, means for releasing thecarrier from the member, a circuit closer and closing means therefor,and means on the circuit maker for co-action with the coupling means foropening the circuit maker.

5. a In a coin controlled apparatus, the combinationwith a ratchet wheeland its 0 crating means, of a loosely associated coln carrier, a ratchetmechanism mounted. on the carrier and means for engaging the mechanismwith the wheel under weight of a coin, means for disengaging saidratchet mechanism, an automatically closed circuit maker, and means onthe circuit maker for co-action with the ratchet mechanism for openingthe "circuit maker.

6. The combination with a shaft and its ratchet wheel, of a coin carrierloosely mounted on the shaft, a weight. operated ratchet lever mountedon the carrier for engagement with the wheel, a retainin detent for saidlever, a release lever mount on the carrier, means for actuating therelease lever, an automatically closed circuit maker, and an abutment onthe circuit maker for co-action with the ratchet lever for opening thecircuit maker.

7. The combination with the movable and stationary blades of a circuitmaker, of an oscillatable coin carrier and rotatin means therefor,coupling means between t e rotating means and carrier, said couplingmeans including a lever on the carrier and an abutment on the movableblade adapted to hold the circuit maker, a weight operated arm on thelever whereby the lever is withdrawn from the abutment of the opencircuit maker,

and means for uncoupling the rotating means and carrier.

8. The combination with a rotating shaft and its ratchet wheel, of agravity-returned coin carrier loose on the shaft, 9. coin-operatedratchet lever mounted on the carrier, 0.

spring detent for said lever mounted on the carrier, a bell-crankrelease lever mounted on the carrier for. co-action with the ratchetlever, a stationary pin in the path of said bellcrank lever, anautomatical y closed circuit maker, and an abutment on the circuit makerfor co-action with the ratchet lever for opening the circuit maker.

9. In a radio receiving instrument, a coin controlled apparatuscomprising a clock as a continuously o erating motor, an automaticallyclosed circuit maker for the instru- 5 ment, a rotary coin carrier andmeans for coupling said carrier with the motor, means for releasing thecoupling between the carrier and the motor, means for returning the'coin carrier to normal position when the 1 couplin is released, andmeans on the circuit ma er for co-action with the coupling means wherebythe circuit maker is opened when the cou ling is released.

10, In a ra io receiving instrument, a coin controlled apparatuscomprising a clock as a continuously operating motor, a pair of spacedcoin chutes, a gravity actuated carrier between the chutes, means forcoupling the carrier to said motor, means for releasing the couplingbetween the carrier and motor, an automatically closed circuit maker,and means on the circuit maker for co-action with the couplin meanswhereby the circuit maker is opene when the coupling is released.

In testimony whereof I afiix m signature.

GUY E. IEGEL.

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